Another Early Settlor Gone-Willis Thompson-1797-1875

THOMPSON

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 12/7/2017 at 22:47:32

Dubuque Daily Times, Saturday, November 24, 1875, Dubuque, Iowa, Page: 8

Another Early Settlor Gone

On the 19th inst., at Farley in this County, Mr. Willis Thompson died at the ripe age of 78 years. The funeral obsequies were held at the M. E. church in Farley, and a large concourse of people gathered there to pay their last sad respect and honor to the memory of the good man who had gone to meet his God.

Willis Thompson was born in South Carolina, in 1797, and in 1809, when only 12 years old, emigrated to what is known as American Bottoms, St. Clair’s Co., Ill. Though only a mere boy he served in the frontier War of 1812 to 1815, and won a title to courage and bravery he assisted in making the old trails and surveys in Illinois at that early day. Previous to 1827, and in that year he moved to the Galena lead mines. In 1831, he crossed to the Dubuque lead mines, and spent a week prospecting for material, and was driven off. In 1833, he served in the Blackhawk War, and was a participant in what was known as the Battle of Wisconsin, in which he shot an Indian and captured a trophy, the red skins bloody blanket. In June of that year he returned to the Dubuque mines and prosecuted lead mining for about three years, when he made the first claim on what is called Bankston Prairie, embracing 320 acres, on which now stands the Catholic Church, D. D. O’Connell’s store, and other buildings. Generous and hospitable the latch-string of his home was always out to the stranger and the weary, and no one in want ever went forth over his threshold unsupplied; and many are the clergy of early times in this county who will testify to his warm welcome and hospitality. Mr. Thompson continued to reside on his farm until 1865, when he sold out and moved to the vicinity of Farley, where he had resided up until the day of his death. He is mourned by a large circle of friends

The Rev. Mr. Thompson, pastor of the M. E. Church, performed the funeral services, preaching from the appropriate text, “Be ye also ready.”